Anniversary weekend pictures, part 2

Mendocino is really beautiful. There are scenes like this everywhere you look:

I got some new shoes:

We went for a run along Big River.

Tim running:

Me running:

Taking a break after 3 miles:

Cooling off fast after the run:

So beautiful:

Random weekend thoughts:
Mendocino, land of the Prius, is the only place where one can feel guilty for driving a Camry Hybrid, as it doesn't get as good of gas mileage as it could if it were a Prius!
Breakfasts at the inn were fabulous, and I loved that there was no bacon or sausage!
At a dog-friendly place, there are always happy dogs to be petted.
North coast CA is really laid back. Maybe it's all the pot in the air...:)
Hot stone massage is relaxing, but I won't do it again, as I love therapeutic massage and ALWAYS have issues to be attended to.
There are a million yummy restaurants to choose from. We ate at Cafe Beaujolais twice because it was that good!
Having a wood-burning fireplace in your room is fun and romantic.

I think I've regained my equilibrium after the weekend and it feels good to be back!

Anniversary weekend pictures, part 1

(As sometimes happens, Blogger is having trouble letting me upload pictures, so I'm breaking this post into sections, hoping I can get around whatever's going on with Blogger today.)

As promised, pictures from our anniversary weekend. We stopped in Davis, about an hour into the trip, for lunch at Bistro 33.

Then we really hit the road. The drive to Mendocino is 5 hours, and as you get closer to the coast, it looks like this:

Tim takes a break from driving.

Meals at the inn were delicious. On the first morning, this is what our waters looked like. My water is on the right. Can you see the problem? (Middle glass is fresh carrot juice -- yum!)

Once we fixed them, life was much better. :)

Nike does the right thing!

Got this info from Vanilla at Half Fast.

Nike is announcing today that it recognizes Arien O'Connell as a winner in last weekend's Nike Women's Marathon completing the full race in 2:55:11. She shattered her previous time and achieved an amazing accomplishment.

Arien will receive the same recognition and prize, including a Tiffany & Co. trophy, the full marathon elite group winner received. Arien was unfortunately not immediately recognized as a race winner because she did not start the race with the elite running group, which is required by USATF standards. Because of their earlier start time, the runners in the elite group had no knowledge of the outstanding race Arien was running and could not adjust their strategies accordingly.

Learning from the unique experience in this year's race, Nike has decided today to eliminate the elite running group from future Nike Women's Marathons. Next year, all runners will run in the same group and all will be eligible to win.

Nike has a proven track record of supporting athletes and we're proud to be able to honor Arien and other athletes who surpass their goals and achieve great accomplishments.

Nike Women's Marathon non-winner

What goes up...

...must come down. As delightful as the weekend was with Tim, re-entry has been a bitch! I'll post pictures once I regain my equilibrium. :)

Weekend workouts

Saturday: 5 mile run along Big River
Sunday: 40 minute kettlebell workout in the room while watching football!

Anniversary - aaaaah!

This weekend we're belatedly celebrating our anniversary, staying at The Stanford Inn, a vegetarian (vegan, really) inn, and it is absolutely lovely, from the wood-burning fireplace in the room, to the awesome breakfast, to the trails that run along Big River (which we're going to run on in a few minutes) to the gorgeous scenery of coastal Northern California. In the midst of some of our toughest parenting times thus far, it feels extra wonderful to be away from real life, and to just enjoy my husband! I'll have pictures to share when we return.

A food ultimatum for myself

On Monday I wrote about needing to rethink my eating. I still really like being vegetarian -- the idea of eating animals don't sit well for me (eating body parts or ground flesh -- no think you!), nor does it make sense to drink milk (that's for baby cows, not for me!). I eat very limited amounts of cheese and eggs. That all sounds good, right? Well, I've slipped back into my lazy processed food ways, so although I'm not eating animals, the way I'm eating is anything but healthy.

I continue to try to eat a whole foods based diet. I read everything Tracy Reifkind writes and agree with her views. But I've been unwilling to put them into practice thus far.

So I started to think about what kind of leverage I can use on myself. Like what kind of deal can I make that will spur me into action. Because living like I do now:

Breakfast: handful of almonds, vegan protein bar, Diet Pepsi
Snack: some peanut butter?
Lunch: baby carrots and hummus, another protein bar
Snack: Frosted Mini Wheats and soy milk
Dinner: Salad? Frozen burrito? Whatever.
Post-dinner: Protein bar, or cereal again, maybe some Doritos or Sun Chips, anything chocolate

See much balance here? I sure don't!

So here's what I've come up with. I need to start eating real food. A lot more fruits and veggies. Just a better diet all together. And if I don't? I have to go back to eating meat.

So today I've had:

Breakfast: almonds, vegan protein bar (old habits die hard!)
Snack: Green smoothie (I've missed these!)
Lunch: Falafel wrap from U-Food
Snack: pumpkin apple muffin

Ok, so it's not the best, but it's better than before, don't you think? And my deal with myself has me thinking about my food choices, because I'd rather be a healthy carnivore than a processed/chemical-ed vegetarian. And I think that may be enough leverage to keep me moving towards better food choices, don't you?

More about running 22 miles

I'm so happy the run is behind me. I figure the next time I do 22, it will be a little bit easier, because with each long run I learn lots of good stuff. Here are some notes from this one:

• Because of my AM/PM sugar packet experience, I did carry both a cell phone and some money this time! See what an experienced runner girl I am!
  
• I think I'd be better off taking a day off before the long run. On Monday night I did speed work (7 miles) and on Tuesday I did LOTS of kettlebell swings. So on Wednesday, my glutes and hamstrings were sore and it might be better to be fresh for long distances.
• I tried Accelerade for the first time this run, and I liked it. They tell you they have a 4:1 carb/protein ratio and that it's best for endurance and recovery. All I can say is that I didn't have too much post-run tummy weirdness, and that's a good thing, right?
• This run had two distinct halves. The first 12 miles went really well, and I averaged a 9:05 pace. By mile 15, I had a huge cramp and was considering quitting. And those last 7 miles were amazingly tough. I think I averaged almost 10 minutes per mile, and that was only because I was pushing to go fast (HA!).
• What got me through those last 7 miles were stubbornness (I did NOT just run 15 miles to have them go to waste!) and my marathon runner neighbor Jan. I ran into her at mile 15. She just did a 4:06 marathon two weeks ago, and is running the Nike half this weekend. She asked me how many miles I was running and I told her. She said, "You're doing GREAT!" (and she IS the most encouraging person on the planet). Then she asked why I didn't have a water bottle, and said she always gets super thirsty the last few miles of a long run. So I took her advice and ran home to get a water bottle (like most of my runs, I was never more than about 4 miles from my house and at this point I was 2 blocks away!). And the whole last 7 miles I would think, "I want to stop running!" and then I would think, "Jan says I'm doing GREAT!" Thank you God for putting Jan there to help me through this run.
• I will never again schedule ANYTHING after a long run. (I trained a client 45 minutes after I stopped running.) It's just too taxing. What I really want (I think I may have written this before) is to be like Dean Karnazes who just gets home from a run and immediately starts playing with his kids and enjoying life. I'm more like "Where's the computer (must log miles on weblog and on dailymile!)?", "Where's the shower?" and "Where's my bed?". It may sound nuts, but I really do want to be able to run 15 - 20 miles and just get back into life. Is that unrealistic? (Don't answer that unless you answer really nicely, ok?)

Can't sleep.

Tried to take a nap after today's long run. Dogs were restless and barking, and kids were home from school and I just couldn't do it. So I thought sleeping tonight would be easy. Nope. Can't sleep. Can't get comfy. Don't like it much.

Thanks for all the nice comments, friends! I really do intend to reply to every one, but sometimes it takes me a while.

Parent Project was excellent. So good that it would be great if it were required for all parents of pre-teens. Don't want to infringe on copyrighted materials, but I'll give some general overview info as the class goes on.

Heading back upstairs to attempt to sleep once more. Wish me luck!

22 mile run

Done. Took everything. So happy it's behind me. No way I could have run 4.1 more miles. Good thing marathon is nearly 2 months away.

I'm starting a class called The Parent Project tonight. I've heard wonderful things about it, and as life with my older son is becoming increasingly difficult, I'm hoping this class will provide some solutions. But I bring it up because if anyone is in Rocklin tonight and wants to see something that will make them laugh, stop by the Parent Project at 9:00 to see me attempting to get up out of a chair after sitting for 3 hours!

Tucker at the Mud Run

Butternut Squash Soup

This recipe is from California Sizzles, a Pasadena Junior League cookbook that my mother in law got me about 15 years ago. It has some wonderful recipes, and this is just one of many:

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups butternut squash, diced
1 granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons flour
1 - 2 teaspoons curry powder
pinch of nutmeg
3 cups chicken broth (I use veggie broth)
1 ½ cups milk
1 orange, juiced plus grated rind
salt and pepper


In a large soup pot melt butter and saute onions over medium heat until soft. Add squash, apple and garlic. Saute for 3 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add flour, curry powder and nutmeg, stirring constantly to blend. Slowly add broth, milk and orange juice and rind, stirring constantly to combine. Simmer 20 - 30 minutes until vegetables are very soft.

Puree in batches in blender or food processor. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Pics from the pumpkin farm

You've just gotta love the beauty and energy of being twelve!!!

7 fast-ish miles

I don't want to become a really slow runner, and in order to avoid this, some workouts need to be about speed. Sometimes I'll do a Cardio Coach (wonderful workouts!) to push my speed. Tonight I happened to be following two faster runners (they looked like high school girls, but it turns out they were mother and high school daughter -- lots to love about running!), so I started out fast, then hung with them for a couple of miles, then worked to stay fast. I ended up running 7 miles at an 8:21 pace, which is Speed Racer fast for me.

The plan for the rest of the week is maybe one slower mid-distance run, say 6 to 8 miles. Then on Thursday I'm running 22. And what will keep me going is that on Friday Tim and I are leaving for a weekend in Mendocino (belated anniversary getaway). We're staying at a beautiful vegetarian B&B on the ocean, and we're scheduled for massages in the forest, we're planning to rent a canoe or kayak or bikes (or maybe all 3) and we're just gonna enjoy a kid-free weekend --- aaaaaahhhhhh, bliss!

Final pumpkin post

• Although I am an introvert, at the 3 hour mark, I felt lonely at the pumpkin patch. However, I read a lot of good blog entries and read some great training books.
• My son is now old enough that I can embarrass him which is the only reason I didn't bring running clothes or start doing pushups on the picnic benches. If I'd been here by myself, exercise would have happened, because I truly don't care what other people think.
• I bought a new pig -- a really cute garden stake. I'll post pics later this week.
• Pumpkin apple muffins are delicious!
• I need to rethink my eating. Confession: I've fallen into the love of manufactured food trap once again. And as I'm a lazy cook, I'm living on salads and protein bars, because I don't want to cook two dinners. May have to rethink the vegetarian thing, as often times being veg these days means I eat raw almonds, protein bars, baby carrots, and whatever sugary treats I want (one of the benefits of running lots of miles, but NOT the way I want to fuel my body).
• Note to self -- post butternut squash soup recipe. I just said I'm a lazy cook, but that doesn't mean I don't cook at all. In fact, I'm a good cook, but I'm burned out on the whole dinner thing. I do have a few fabulous fall recipes though, and one of them is an out-of-this-world good butternut squash soup recipe. I promise I'll share it this week!

Time to load up the kidlets and head back home. Happy Monday, friends!

Runner arms begone!

A few weeks back, my husband, who says what he means and means what he says, told me that my arms were getting a little too runner-like, in his opinion. This came as no surprise, as I was focusing on running almost to the exclusion of anything else. So I've planned some more upper body weight workouts over the last few weeks. And I put a pair of 12 pound weights in the family room, and have been using them when I watch TV. Hey guess what? When you lift weights consistently, you look and feel stronger! Here's my TV-watching weight routine:

Pushups: 3 sets of 10
Overhead press: 2 or 3 sets of 20
Rear delt flyes: 2 sets of 10 or so
Fast hammer curls: 2 or 3 sets of 15
One arm rows (using both weights in one hand): 2 sets of 10 or so
Tricep press: 2 sets of 10

As you can tell, I don't have this written down or formalized or anything. But doing this while watching TV makes it feel like "not exercise" and I like that.

The day of much writing

The kids came back after seeing the animals and riding the hay ride, and we had lunch together. They are so fun to be around! Now they're in line for the train. So yeah, there will probably be a few more blog posts today...

Why I broke up with my scale

I haven't weighed myself in almost a month now. Why? Because I never react in a sane manner to my weight. If it's a good weight (less than 135 or 136) I want to celebrate by eating. And if it's a bad weight (more than 137) I want to eat to console myself. And why should any of those numbers be labeled "good" or "bad"? I know it's easy to measure your weight, and maybe if I could just treat weight as information, it would be fine to weigh. But so many things affect your weight, which is why it can fluctuate so wildly within a few days or even in a single day (water weight, anyone?) So I've given up weighing. But right now, all my close are loose, even my "skinny clothes." My rings are loose. Running is going well, and I'm feeling strong, energetic and alive. So I guess if I did weigh, it would be a "good" number, right?

Why I exercise

Running, biking and swimming with Tucker last night was SO MUCH FUN, although swimming is amazingly difficult, which is why I intend to do more of it in the near future! But I loved how I could connect with my kid through play, and that's one of the main reasons I exercise. Some might think that "how you look" would be at the top of anyone's list for why they exercise. Actually there are many reasons why I stay active, and vanity is probably at the very bottom of the list. Here, in order, are the reasons why I stay active:

1. To keep my emotions and moods on an even keel.
2. So I can eat a lot of food. :)
3. To feel confident and sexy with my husband.
4. So I can play and move without the restrictions that can come with age.

Anyone else want to chime in on why you do what you do???

Hangin' at the pumpkin farm

So I'm sitting at a picnic table at Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. It's a beautiful fall day and Tucker and his 3 friends are enjoying all that Bishop's has to offer. At almost 13, he and his friends wanted some freedom, so I told them I'd plant myself with the laptop and some good books, and I would be content as they have fun here at the farm. Thanks to the magic of cell phones, I can check in with them and let them know where I am, and we're going to have lunch all together, which will be fun.

I started taking the kids to Bishop's when Austin was just 1 year old, and it was an annual tradition until just the last few years when the kids were of the "I can take it or leave it" mindset. But when you bring friends along, it's a whole new thing. Bishop's makes the BEST pumpkin bread and we will be leaving with lots of it! Perhaps that can be my 55 mile celebration treat.

Make that 55

Tucker wanted to go to the gym and do a triathlon, so we did a 1 mile treadmill run, 3 mile bike, and 100 meter (4 lap) swim. Tons of fun!!!

Highest mileage week ever

54 miles this week. Body feels good. Marathon is exactly 8 weeks from today. That thought makes me feel nervous AND excited.

My son's going to homecoming tonight!

I hope he has a GREAT time and makes equally GREAT decisions. It's very strange being the parent of a teenager. And delightful. And confusing. And I wouldn't trade it for anything!

How my family views my running

Reactions in my immediate family are varied and as unique as the individuals I share this home with.

Austin (age 15, oldest son) does not hesitate to tell me that I'm insane. Truly nuts. Can't imagine why I'd want to run at all ever. When I tell him about long runs, he uses this as evidence to back his theory of my insanity. My reaction to this? I laugh. It's par for the course with a smart, sarcastic teen in the house.

Tucker (age 12, youngest son) is the exact opposite. He delights in my miles. He tells me I'm his "crazy running mommy!" (but he says this as he's giving me a huge hug) and that he's so proud of me. When I told him I ran 6 miles yesterday, he said, "That's NOTHING for you!" Tucker's encouragement feels absolutely wonderful!

A funny aside here -- Tucker tried cross country for one day when school started. He came home and exclaimed, "All they do is run!" Ummm, yeah Tuck. That's what they DO in cross country!

Tim (age 44, best husband) says he is "crazy proud" of me and that feels fabulous! He ran 3 marathons in his late 20s and early 30s and doesn't want to train that hard again (it messes with his golf game!), but is really excited that I'm training for my first marathon. I don't think I'd even be signed up for the marathon if it wasn't for his offhand comment a few weeks ago where he said I could run a marathon if I wanted to. Thanks so much, Tim!

All I know is that regardless of their views on running, every one of my guys will be busy on the morning of December 7th as I run my very first marathon. And yes, Austin, you DO have to get up early even though I know it's your least favorite thing in the world to do!

You STILL send me!

Nineteen years ago today was one of the best days of my life!

I love you more with every year we spend together!

Baby, you STILL send me! Happy anniversary!

God stuff

In my world view, it's all God stuff. But I wanted to bring to your attention two specific God-inspired things you might want to check out:

1. Fireproof. Tim and I saw this movie on Friday and it's wonderful. It is a Christian movie, which means they're going to talk about God, and I'd give it a B+ in terms of acting. But it's a wonderful movie about marriage and it somehow manages to be encouraging, instructional, and laugh-out-loud funny all at the same time. I came away with some fresh ideas on keeping my marriage strong. For those who are struggling, I'd highly recommend it. Don't know how long it will be in theaters, but it's worth checking out.

2. The Shack. Our pastor recommended this and after Tim read it and loved it, I decided to give it a go. I am a Christian, but one with lots of questions. This book helped answer quite a few questions I'd had, and helped me to get a fresh perspective on God. Highly recommended!

Note to Jo Lynn -- I don't know how to get in touch with you directly, but we go to Bayside in Granite Bay, which IS affiliated with the one in Lincoln. I don't know your brother (darn it!) but I'm encouraged to know there are ultra runners like you (and maybe me someday?) in the Christian world! If you want to email me, I'm lgandy at starstream dot net.

Longest run thus far

I ran 20 miles today.

Re-reading that, it doesn't even seem possible. But yep, I ran 20 miles.

It was not easy. And true to my crazy kind of running, I never ran more than 3 miles from my home. The first 7 miles were easy, except because it's that time of the month, I needed to make a girl pit stop by the house (part of why I never went very far from home). Next 7 miles were good too. Then another pit stop. Last 6 miles got tough as I headed into new territory. But now it's done.

I'm trying to figure out long runs. Last weekend I ran 17 on Sunday and didn't like that, because it felt like I was bitchy and draggy the whole rest of the day, and it's a day with my family. So today I ran with the kids in school and Tim at work, thinking that would be better. I'm not sure if it is or not. Kids still have needs. Dinner still happens. Honestly, what I want to be is Dean Karnazes, who talks about running all night, then coming home and playing with his kids. I'm more like "Stop the world -- I ran 20 miles today!" Maybe as I get used to more distance it will be easier. Actually, I no longer feel completely wiped by a 13 mile training run, and as that used to be my longest distance, maybe there's hope as I stretch out the miles.

So what's happening right now? I'm making chocolate chip cookies and loving every minute of it!

Sunday projects

In addition to laundry, cleaning and normal maintenance, I tackled two projects I've been putting off for a while:

Project 1: Unlace, wash, dry and relace my running shoes. (Two pairs were used in the Mud Run -- Tucker and I wear the same size -- and the others just needed washing. Also, I don't have 4 active pairs of running shoes. Two pair probably have too many miles on them, but I can't bear to part with them!)

Project 2: Tear the pantry apart to find the source of the tiny moths that have been making a home there over the last few weeks. (The "Leslie Lane" sign was stolen for me by some high school friends, and I've treasured it ever since. And I LOVE our pantry!)

The difference between me and Tina Fey

(This is Tina Fey and not me. Sorry for any confusion!)

There are, of course many differences. She is an A-List Hollywood actress. I am a stay-at-home wife and mom/part-time personal trainer. She is known by millions. I am known by tens (maybe hundreds?). And the list could go on and on. But the contrast between us became painfully obvious when we had similar injuries. Remember when I skinned my knees in the Mud Run and called them "kindergarten knees?"

Well, this weekend on Twitter, Tina Fey posted this:

I stubbed my knee last night and now it looks like I've been blowing a hobo on gravel.

hoboless gravel

Yeah, we may LOOK alike, but our minds certainly don't work the same!

Copying Tracy

I did NOT feel like working out today, but knew I needed something to wake me up. So I took Tracy's workout and changed it slightly (cuz I'm not as strong!) and here's what I did:

Warmup = 40 2 hand swings w/12kg x 3 set, 1 min work/rest = 6 minutes

1st set = 12 kg 3 minute work set, 1 minute rest
44 transfers, 1 minute
12 clean, press, transfer, 1 minute
44 transfers, 1 minute
1 minute rest

I did this 3 times = 12 minutes

2nd set = 12 double clean&press w/2 8kg's
45 sec work, 45 sec rest

I did this 10 times = 15 minutes

3rd set = 30 double swings w/2 8kg's
45 sec work, 45 sec rest

I did this 5 times = 7 1/2 minutes

Total workout = 40 minutes

I liked the double kettlebell work, which is something I've rarely done. I had to stop after 3 sets of the transfers and c&p's with the 12kg's as my hands were feeling pretty beaten up. So I put on some sock sleeves and dropped to a lighter bell that I knew I could control with the sleeves on. Even so, the double swings just about killed me -- limiting factor? Forearms, baby! This workout felt consistent with my desire to get stronger in my upper body and it mostly preserved my legs for tomorrow's long run.

Muchas gracias, Tracy! It was fun workout out with you today. :)

On the outside, I'm a suburban housewife...

...and I look like this:

On the inside I'm a little (a lot?) less conservative, and I want to look like this:

This is Catra, aka Dirt Diva. If you don't yet read her weblog, you should. She's just completed her EIGHTH HUNDRED MILE RACE this year!

So I know that I could go and get lots of tattoos, but I'm approaching 50, not 30, and I think those tattoos would have nowhere to go but south. Sign. I guess I'll make do with running shirts like this:


(From the Athleta catalog. More views here. The back of the shirt is even cuter than the front.)

If I explode...

...you'll know it's because I was so filled with pre-period sugar (note to self: do NOT let kid make cookie dough, then put it into nice individual containers [RAW] in the garage fridge) and water that something had to give.

I'm off on a 10 mile run. Hoping to drop, oh, 10 or 20 pounds of excess fluff!

(20 minutes later) Julianne reminded me that I was planning on using today as a rest day. Plus I have a huge blister that's starting to heal and not running today would surely help. Ok, here's the compromise. Atom Ant suggested a workout months ago -- crud -- now I can't find it! Going from my sieve of a memory, here's what I think it was:

5 rounds
100 jump ropes
25 squats

Wish I could find it! Anyway, I think I'll just do a short intense workout today, then run medium tomorrow. Given the blister, the intensity of the last few days of running, and what I KNOW to be smart, it's the right thing to do. Thanks Julianne and Atom Ant!

(15 minutes later)
Did it! Time was 6:15. Felt kinda like one huge Tabata interval. Was pleased to see that I haven't lost the jump roping skills developed in 5 months of boxing camp earlier this year -- I didn't foot fault even once!

(1 hour later)
Ran 6 miles. I was warmed up and just felt like getting out there! Took it easy though with a 9:25 overall pace. I think it's finally fall here -- woo hoo!!!

CrossFit-ish workout

10 minutes of
Clean and press, 35 pound barbell
20 kettlebell swings, 16 kg kettlebell
I finished 7 rounds.

10 minutes of
10 pushups
10 TRX rows
20 kettlebell swings, 12 kg kettlebell
Also 7 rounds of this.

I am dripping sweat, and only exercised for 20 minutes. Nice!

My inner 11-year-old is alive and well, and here's proof!

Today's lunch: hummus with a girl carrot (and a nice spoonful of chocolate frosting, not pictured).

Today's run

Today I ran 11 miles, and they were tough, but sometimes it takes what it takes, right? First 8 miles were an average 8:45 pace. After that I got hungry and shaky -- not good when you have no money, no water, and 3 miles to go. But I was right by an AM/PM, so I went in and got some tap water and some sugar packets. Ate the sugar, drank the water, and hung onto the 8:45 pace for another mile, and then slowed down for the last 2 miles. Moral of the story? If you're running long-ish and fast-ish, carry some fuel!

Wordle

My new addiction is Wordle. (Thank you to Sarah from Strugglepants, which is where I found this!)

Kindergarten knees and new kicks

Feeling good after yesterday's long run, except for my knees which are sore from the scrapes, cuts, and bruises from the mud pit.

Left knee.

Right knee.

New kicks!!!

Random Sunday thoughts

• I am no longer out of my favorite perfume. Hesperides by Fresh is my favorite scent (citrus, primarily grapefruit!) and I am beyond happy to have it once again. (Why was I out? Because I didn't want to spend the money to rebuy it.)
• At church the pastor was talking about spiritual vitality. One of his key points was to "Give it all you've got." And when talking about that, he said that you need to exhibit these qualities: the DEDICATION of a SOLDIER, the DISCIPLINE of an ATHLETE, and the RESISTANCE TO DISCOURAGEMENT of a FARMER. If only we had these qualities -- dedication, discipline, and resistance to discouragement -- in anything we commit to. How could we fail? Cool insight, huh?
• I ran 17 miles this morning, which is the furthest I've ever run in my life. I started at 6:30 and ended nearly 3 hours later. The first few miles were fine, and since I originally set out to run 15, I considered resetting my Garmin after 5, since then I'd have only 10 miles to go. I didn't reset the Garmin, but I kept focusing on how few miles I had to go, like at mile 7 "I'm almost 1/2 way done" or at mile 10 "Just 5 more miles." I did 17 because a) I had the energy to do it, and b) I'm kind of behind on long run training for a marathon that takes place in a little over 8 weeks. And as with other times when I've covered new running territory, the new miles were tough. It's like your body's going "Hey, we should be done by now!" But I finished. Then quickly got ready for church, and met my family there. I was doing fine until this afternoon when kid transportation needs were making a nap an impossibility. I cam home from taking Tucker someplace, nearly burst into tears and snapped irritably (tough to do both at the same time!) when Tim asked why it had taken so long. Thankfully he offered to do the next leg of driving, which allowed me to sleep. Woke up feeling much MUCH better! And I'm very happy to have run 17 miles!
• Question for fellow runners -- would I have gotten the long run benefit if I'd run part of it early today and part later? I started running at 6:30 this morning, because it's supposed to be 97 degrees today, and I just couldn't see doing a long run in the heat. I told Tim I was going to run 6 before church, then 9 after, and he said I'd lose the benefit of time on my feet. I tend to agree with him, but wanted to know if another runner can weigh in on this.
• Back to church -- our worship leader is Lincoln Brewster and he's awesome! My favorite song we sing is called "Give Him Praise" and it rocks! If you want to know what singing sounds like at my church, go to iTunes and search on Lincoln Brewster.
• There was an 83 year old man who did the 5 mile Mud Run yesterday. Impressive, huh? Tucker shook his hand and said, "Good job, sir!" after the race.
  
• Ummmmmm, as Mark Reifkind would say, datsit friends! More comment appreciation in the next few days.
  

Mather Mud Run

We had a blast! Tucker and I had decided to do this 5 mile obstacle course run. Then Katie said she'd do it. Then Laudon and her son Justin! Hooray -- the more the merrier, right?

We had a fantastic time. If you live in the area, this is a super fun event that you might consider for next year.

Tucker, Justin, Laudon and me atop the hill overlooking the mud pit.

Me and Katie on the same hill. (Note to self -- do not pose with leg in unflattering position again!) Notice how clean we are. Obviously, this is a pre-race picture!

Katie and me after the 5 mile race.

Mission accomplished by all!!!

Big congratulations to Laudon, Justin, and Katie for finishing their first 5-mile mud run. And special hugs and kudos to Katie for feeling the fear and doing it anyway. You rock, Katie!!!

Appreciating friends, part 1

From the heart, I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read what I write -- THANK YOU for stopping by. And to those who comment, please know that I read each one and smile, snicker, carefully consider advice, go "awwww" or whatever response comes to mind. And I appreciate every comment that you take the time to write. Now for some specific responses:

Regarding "Comments and my newest pig":
Anne -- You made me laugh out loud. (That pig looks mighty swine!)
Matt -- You made me laugh even more, but I can assure you my pig has plenty of pignity, with some to spare! :)
Jen -- My pig and me thank you!
Colette -- He is rather fabulous, isn't he?
Evelyne -- Thank you! He lives on a lower shelf on a table in the entry way where he can be admired by many. :)
Eileen and Julianne -- Ok, so here's what's up with pigs (trying to keep it short). Most of you probably know that I'm in recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous, right? And I've been sober now for 23 years, which is wonderful. When I got sober, things were pretty bad, as they are for most people who get sober I suppose. Right before getting sober, I was convinced I'd never live to see age 30. I also never thought I'd get married, or have a nice man in my life, or have children (I KNEW I'd screw that up) or ever have my life amount to much of anything.

(This is a depressing bedtime story, but it gets better.) So at age 24 I got sober. And one day at a time, through the grace of God, my life was rebuilt. I stopped drinking. I lost 50 pounds. I got a job. Got an apartment. Met a wonderful man. Got married. Had kids. And through it all I continue to be amazed that THIS is my life.

A few years ago, I saw a pig statue with wings. A really cool pig, not like an "I like farm animals" pig. And it spoke to the improbability of my life turning out the way it has. So I bought him. Then I got another. And another. I think my family and friends will tell you that my house is not overrun with pigs (yet!). But when I see them, I am reminded about how much I have to be grateful for. Plus they make me smile, and we all need things in our lives that make us smile, right?

Regarding "That which gets measured gets managed":
Brookem, Evelyne, Katie, Anne, Julianne, *aron*, Colette, and Stef -- Thank you! Your words felt like big hugs!
Colette -- Again, thanks!
Katie -- So proud of you for trying green smoothies!
Regarding "Tough as Granite":

Regarding "Random Thursday Thoughts":
Katie, Kara, SuperDave, Colette, and LizN -- Thanks so much for the words of encouragement and support!
Jennifer -- I really liked Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It was definitely off beat, so you'd have to like the quirky indy sort of movie to like it, so I couldn't recommend it to mainstream movie afficianados, you know?

Regarding "Line Segments":
Laurie, Julianne, Evelyne, and Anne -- I loved hearing your perspectives on running line segments. Just goes to show there are many ways to approach the same task, right?

Regarding "Perspective":
Julianne -- Let's both get fully healthy, and then keep enjoying the miles!
Matt -- As always, your words are wise and encouraging -- thank you!
*aron* -- Hooray for us both!
Colette -- You are right, and WAY TO GO on running 3 trail miles -- wow!!!
Anne -- What a sweet thing to say -- thank you!
Laurie -- We've both come a long way and that feels great!

Regarding "The Office":
So glad I'm not the only one who loves The Office. Me, Colette, Anne, Julianne and *aron* only have 24 hours till the new season starts -- hooray!

Tired, I am, and sleeping, I will be soon. More tomorrow. As always, I feel very blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!

Comments and my newest pig

I've told myself I can't write anything new until I express appreciation to everyone who's taken time to comment here. So in the next few days, I'll be answering/thanking everyone who's taken the time to write.

In the meantime, here's a picture of my newest pig. He's about 18" long and 10" high and isn't he fabulous?

That which gets measured, gets managed.

I think the post title quote is attributed to Peter Drucker, management consultant extraordinaire. And it's true in all areas. Keeping an eating log helps make people aware and accountable. Keeping a written budget will help you get and stay on track financially. (Thanks Tim for starting us on budgeting when we were first married, and keeping us on track!)

Well, in February or March (no time to check back posts) I decided to run 1000 miles this year, just like I did 10 years ago when I was 37. And today I hit 1000 miles. It kind of doesn't make sense to me when I write it. Like how did I run 1000 miles? How can ANYONE run 1000 miles? The answer to that question is that it's taken determination (Tim would call it pig-headedness!) and consistency. Oh, and not getting injured has helped, for sure!

Anyway, the mom taxi is off and running, fueled by the high of hitting this goal! Happy Sunday, friends!

Tough as Granite

• Super fun race, but tough -- single track, lots of rocks and roots and up and down.
• Course was well marked, and as one who is directionally challenged, I SO appreciated this!
• Ran with no iPod and no Garmin, taking last week's DailyMile challenge to run without technology. Strange being without my running toys. Became aware of how negative my thinking can be. After about 4 miles, kept the thought, "I am half fast. Not slow. Not fast. But half fast." in my mind. Unfortunately, I did not originate the "half fast" idea, but you can check out the thoughts of the originator here -- it's great fun!
• I finished in 2:05, with an average pace of 9:30 per mile. I'm very happy with that, considering the difficulty of the terrain, and I was 4th in my age group -- hooray!
• The bigger hooray is that I won the top raffle prize -- I get to choose ANY PAIR OF MOUNTAIN RUNNING SHOES I WANT TO PICK from the La Sportiva line.
• I just finished some fabulous post-race Frensh toast (thanks Tim!) and it's time now for the post-race nap. Happy Saturday, friends!
  

Random Thursday thoughts

• I can NOT seem to stop eating today. :(
• I'm making beef stew for Tim's aunt, because I value relationships above my own comfort. But I HATED cutting and cooking the meat. (I won't tell you what I think of it as -- but it ain't pretty!)
• Oldest son is causing concern. I'll be running again in a few minutes just to clear my head.
• It's finally fall and I'm so happy!
• Saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona last night and loved it. My friend Linda is in town from Chicago and we both like off-beat movies. And Penelope Cruz is truly the most beautiful woman in the world.
• Just 21 more running miles till I hit 1000 miles for the year!!!
  

Line segments

Often when I run, and especially when I'm doing hill repeats, I break up my run into line segments. This morning, for example, I didn't want to get too far from home since it was dark when I went out. So I ran about a mile and a half out, and then started coming back. But since I wanted more miles, I came back by covering the same ground multiple times. So I ran back to a street light, then out to the end point, back to the street light, out to the end point, then back to the street light. So now I'd covered the segment from the end to the street light 3 times. Then I started working back from the street light to a stop sign, again covering it 3 times. And I kept this up until my Garmin said 4 miles, and I was about a mile from home. (Don't try to do the math -- all I know is that it worked out for 5 miles.)

So am I the only one who does this? Tim thinks this is crazy, but I think it makes running interesting. Thoughts? (But if you think I'm nuts, say it nicely, please!)

Perspective

I got up at 5:20 this morning and ran 5 miles. And I feel like "I only ran 5 miles?" There was a time when that would have been thrilling, as it would have been my longest run ever. I guess the good news is that I can challenge that thinking, the "Wow, you really don't do much, do you?" that goes through my head. And it's true that 5 miles has become my short run distance, but that doesn't mean it's insignificant, right?

The Office is back on iTunes!

With the release of iTunes 8, NBC shows are back on iTunes, including THE OFFICE!!! And the first episode of season 4, titled "Fun Run" is free. If you are a runner, or anyone who's into fitness, you owe it to yourself to download and watch.

Best quote from this episode: Michael "I'm not superstitious but I'm a little stitious."

Running America 08

All weekend I was excited about getting to run with Charlie and Marshall of Running America. On Sunday I baked cookies,

Snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies.

got myself ready,

Me, really tired from Austin's birthday party the night before.

and headed to Lodi to meet with running group 5 at the corner of Highway 12 and Highway 88. The website said they would be there between 1:30 and 6:00 -- big window! I got there at 1:15. It was strange just pulling off the road beside a field and waiting. Then the doubts began. What if I'm in the wrong place? What if I missed them? Tim checked the website from home, assuring me that they had not passed me by. But even then I was unsure. There were supposed to be 5 people in our group, but I never saw anyone else.

This is a picture of me running with Charlie and two of his support crew, and it gives you an idea of the area where we met up.

So I waited for 2 hours and finally a car drove up, and a woman asked "Are you here to run?" Hooray! Out came Kate, Ameera, and Liz, all part of the production crew. What a relief to be in the right place! They interviewed me (why are you here? what do you think about 2 men running across the country? why do you run? etc.) and then we waited for the runners. As we waited, more of the production and support staff showed up. I gave them the cookies and still we waited. Then Charlie (sans Marshall -- he was running alone, I was told) showed up and off we went.

Me, Charlie, and two of his friends who are part of the support crew (and whose names I can't remember -- I'm sorry!)

So running with a famous runner who's running 70 miles a day is different in many ways. First of all, I was worried about keeping up, but I was joining a runner who'd already covered 50 miles for the day (amazing!) and we ran at a nice easy pace, which I guess is part of how you manage to do 70 miles in a day.

Then there's the film crew. We ran behind a pickup truck with a camera man and a sound guy sitting on the tailgate, recording the entire time.

So I saw Charlie's Twitter updates, and he wrote that yesterday was one of the hardest days (well, there's only one day to compare it with). Temps were approaching 90 degrees. And running 70 miles a day takes its toll on your body. But he could not have been any nicer to run with. If yesterday what I was was Charlie having a tough day, I can't imagine how he must be when things are going well. We talked non-stop for the entire hour or so that we ran together. We have a lot in common -- both sober, both parents of teenage boys, both loving running. And the conversation meandered from the event to politics to patriotism to parenting, and on and on. Here are a few observations:

Charlie is very open about his sobriety, and feels that running supports his recovery. He has a core group of guys he's run with in North Carolina for years.

I asked him if our pace was ok, and he told me that it all felt awful, whether running or walking, at that point, so he just keeps running.

He misses his family and hates that he's missing his son's cross country meets. Both of his sons are runners and will be meeting him in Ohio and running with him into New York.

A crew member showed up with a plate of lasagne which was not accepted (at least at that time). Stomach difficulties were making food an issue.

He mixes his running with distance cycling, loving both, and feels that cross training helps improve his running.

He can't wait to meet more runners as he continues across the country.

I saw on Twitter this morning that he thanked me for the chocolate chip cookies, and said if anyone wants to bring some chocolate cake, he's up for it!

At times while running, Charlie pulled out his phone and answered text messages (he told me his replies are super brief!), as he has to multi-task during this event. There were 3 RVs and several cars and vans along the route as his support vehicles, and Charlie was gracious to everyone who was helping him. (When I'm in pain, I'm of the "don't talk to me" mindset, so I'm still pretty blown away at how friendly and kind he was!)

After 4-1/2 miles we parted ways. Charlie gave me a big hug and said he'd love to run together again. I was offered a ride back to my car, but it became a logistical challenge, so I opted to run back. Because I was so distracted by my new friend and the whole crew, the way back looked very unfamiliar at times, which was unnerving as I was running on the side of a highway in a pretty rural area. But it gave me a chance to think about the event and it also allowed me to put in 9 miles yesterday, bringing my weekly mileage to (drum roll, please)

FIFTY MILES!!!

That's the most miles I've run in a week in my entire life! (But it's still 20 miles short of what Charlie ran yesterday. And the day before that. And today. And tomorrow. And so on...!)

If you're a runner, I'd encourage you to check out the Running America website, and if you can, get out there and run. It's a once in a lifetime experience and not to be missed!

I GET TO RUN WITH CHARLIE AND MARSHALL!!!

So I ran 12 miles this morning, convinced that I wouldn't be able to contact Running America. They were 12 good miles, run at a 9:00 per mile pace. Fun. Done. When I got home, there was an email from the Running America race coordinator with instructions for where I can meet Charlie and Marshall tomorrow to run with them.

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Will there be pictures and details? Oh yeah!

Lazy Saturday morning

Slept in. Enjoying waking up slowly. Gonna be running before too long. But for now I'm still sitting at the computer and enjoying a quiet house (Tim's golfing, kids are sleeping).

Random thoughts:

• I LOVE Mad Men! This show was recommended by one of Tim's friends, and we've watched half of the first season. Set in Manhattan in 1960, it's about an advertising agency and the people who work there. It's been a while since I've been this intrigued by a show. Highly recommended!
• For months I've been thinking I'd be running with Charlie Engle and Marshall Ulrich as they run across the country for Running America. I signed up months ago and have waited for information. And waited. And waited. They started running at 5:00 this morning in San Francisco, and will be coming through Sacramento over the weekend. And I can't find their route. The map posted on the site only has the hotels they'll be staying at, and not the actual route. One of my Dailymile friends has signed up to run and gave me the email address she has for the project. So I've emailed, plus I've been directly in touch with Charlie via Twitter, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Darn.
• Austin's birthday party is tonight. We'll be hosting 10 14 and 15 year old boys at our house, then taking them to a gymnastics gym for an all-night party. I think they're gonna have fun, but I think I'm gonna be TIRED tomorrow!

Ok, time to get some miles in. Happy Saturday, friends!

Lovely autumn day!

Today has been lovely! Here's how it went:

Woke up at 6:00. Tim agreed to get kids off for school so I could run early. (Thanks baby!) Ran 9 miles with cool morning air in my face!

Did some paperwork and planned some workouts. Fixed dinner (Honey Curry Chicken for Tim & kids, brown rice, salad) and it's ready for the oven.

Went to Home Goods to look for house stuff. Found a marvelous new pig (pictures soon -- I'm sure everyone's anxious to see him!).

Got pedicure. Magical woman at pedicure place managed to transform my runner feet back into girl feet!

Met Colette here at the house. We shared green smoothies and kettlebell training -- FUN!

Now I'm sitting eating a sunflower seed butter and honey sandwich (one of the benefits of distance running is some ease in your food intake). Tucker arrives home from school soon. Then we head to Austin's water polo game (he's the first string goalie now and he loves it!). Then home to pop dinner in the oven, train a client, take Austin to guitar, and then it's time to relax!

I have a lovely life!

Just because we can!

So Terri and I decided to get our upper ears (cartilage) pierced last week. Why? I dunno. Maybe because parenting feels stressful. Maybe because I kinda want a tattoo but am unsure I'm ready to commit to one. (When I turned 40 I got my belly button pierced. I kept it for 3 years, and then I was done. Now it looks like I have a freckle. Talk about low commitment!) I really like how it looks, but because my hair is thick, you can't see it at all unless I'm wearing a pony or I'm wearing sunglasses atop my head, a la 80's prep. So I'm considering getting two more earrings (maybe then they'll be more visible?), but am still thinking on that one.

Yeah, this is what 47-year-olds do for fun!

Intervals!

First time running planned intervals. Here's how it went:

1 mile warm up = 9:00
Then I did 1/4 mile fast, 1/4 mile recovery for 3 1/4 miles. Here are the fast 1/4 miles:
1:54, 1:57, 1:52, 1:55, 1:49, 1:57, 1:48
Then a slower 3/4 mile jog home.

I found the flattest part of Rocklin I could find (which still isn't flat, which accounts for some of the time variations). My recovery intervals got slower as I went, but overall to run an 8:35 pace for 5 miles is a LOT faster than I usually run. And I found that the variations in the intervals made the miles go by really fast. I'll do this again for sure.

Experienced runner friends -- any feedback on my choice of workouts? My goal is to learn to run faster.

Can't have it both ways!

Most of the time, older son reeks of "you guys are idiots and I can't believe I have to live in this awful place." It oozes out of his pores. It permeates his being. (And this summer, he told us he hated every single minute he spent here at home, so I'm not making this up.) So if there's ANY possibility of being NOT AT HOME, he jumps at the chance.

When we told him we'd like him to go to church with us tonight, as our church is kicking off small groups at the same time it's starting a new program for high school group (which he loved this summer) and junior high (which Tucker is eager to start), what was his response? "Well, I'd only be home for an hour between water polo and leaving for church. That's hardly any time at home."

Ummmm, yeah. You can't have it both ways!

Websites I need

Here are the websites I need to find:

What the eff should I cook for dinner?
Remedial pleasant dinnertime conversation for teens
Non-sugar cures for angst

At this rate, I'll be up to 100 running miles per week in no time!

Laughter in a tough day is good medicine

Found this on the Manic Mommies website and it made me laugh for the first time today. Enjoy!

Notes from Team Rif seminar

Tracy swings with intensity.

What a great way to spend a weekend! Here are some quick notes from the Team Rif seminar and today's Master Class with Tracy:

• Mark Reifkind (aka Rif) knows everything about the human body and knows how to explain it. He's also an amazing instructor and knows how to break down complex movements, having you focus on just one part at a time as you learn how to perfect the skill. Watching Mark teach is an education in itself -- all teachers should be this good.
  
• I loved the stretching routine Mark showed us and intend to incorporate it into my own training, and use it with my clients.
• When Tracy used me on the first day as her guinea pig for a 15s work/15s rest routine, I was flattered and nervous. What if I can't do it? What if I mess up? Going through just 4 minutes of swings with intensity was eye opening to say the least. Certainly, kettlebell swings are a wonderful thing. But swings with intensity are like a whole new exercise. If you're one of my clients and you're reading this, get ready for some fun changes in your workouts!
• I'd gotten away from doing SMR (aka foam rolling) and am once again convinced that it's one of the keys to staying active and healthy for the long haul.
• Don't want to post specifics of Tracy's class today (it's not my place to do that), but I can tell you that she continues to find ways to make swings interesting, challenging, and fun. And no matter what size kettlebell you're using, there's a HUGE difference between just cruising along doing swings at an easy pace, vs. doing swings where you're reaching back with the bell and really focusing on your hip snap.
• My hand DID rip today with about 10 minutes to go in the workout. I decided to just keep going, which was painful but oh well. The biggest problem? Now I want to play with kettlebells and I can't, because I have one full-fledged rip, and several other candidates that are ready to break open.
  
• Gayle Hunter, who's an RKC level 2 (it's a big deal to be an RKC at all, much less progress up the ladder. Incidentally, Rif is an RKC Master instructor -- one of only 5 in the world!) and who hosted the Team Rif event told me today that I had a hip snap that would make Pavel proud. I was rediculously delighted by this comment!

How's Fortysomething and Fabulous for the title of this picture? :)

Learning from Tracy and Rif

If you EVER get a chance to attend a seminar with Mark and Tracy Reifkind, DO IT! I spent 5 hours today in Healdsburg at their Team Rif seminar and I'm going back tomorrow, driving 6 hours in all, to do a 1 hour master class with Tracy. (I know that sounds crazy, but it's how my schedule worked out, and trust me -- it's worth the drive!) These people know their kettlebells, and they're also some of the nicest people to hang out with. Now if I can just get my hands to recover quickly for tomorrow's workout. I've been so focused on running that kettlebells have taken a back seat, and my hands are definitely feeling the effects of lots of swings and snatches.

I'll post pictures and more early in the week.

Just for the girls

(All boys please leave the room, ok?)
So maybe it's just me, but I'm convinced I'd be 10 pounds lighter if there was a way to get rid of period cravings and the lack of willpower that seems to go along with them! I'm just glad I didn't have to deal with period nonsense for the race on Monday!
(Everyone is welcome back in the room now.)

Randomness

• The Nike running skirt I got for last year's Nike Women's half marathon is too big. I can still wear it, but I remember when I bought it debating about going a size smaller, and choosing against it. That my skirt is big is what I think of as a quality problem!
• I want to run trails again! I'm absolutely fascinated with this new way of running and can't wait to do it again. Guess I'll get my chance on the 20th when I do the Tough as Granite trail half marathon.
• I SIGNED UP FOR MY FIRST MARATHON! Yep, on December 7th I'll be running in the California International Marathon. I've helped two friends to run their first marathons in this race in previous years. Looks like this time it's my turn!
  

49'r 10 mile trail race, 1:35!!!

This was my first trail race and it was a blast! Since I wanted to finish in under 3 hours (keep your expectations low, and you'll never be disappointed, right?) I'm thrilled with my time. And the altitude (2000 feet, which I hadn't even considered before today) was not an issue, thankfully! The downhill single-track part was hard for me, since I'm cautious by nature. But the last 4 miles were a 1000 foot climb, and that's where my hill training paid off. And a nice surprise at the end -- I took second place in my age group! (The key is just get old and keep running, in case anyone's wondering how to place!) Now let the eating begin!